Ocean Park Aquarium in Shark Bay is one of those places where kids arrive a little nervous about sharks and leave completely in awe of them. Just a short drive south of Denham and around 30km from Monkey Mia, this eco-focused aquarium is an easy add-on to any Shark Bay family itinerary and a great way to break up the beach and driving time with an experience that’s both exciting and genuinely educational.
Visits to Ocean Park are by guided tour, which is actually a huge plus for families. Tours run continuously throughout the day, so once you’ve bought your tickets you simply join the next group and follow a marine scientist around the aquarium’s indoor tanks and outdoor lagoons. Over 45 minutes to an hour, your guide introduces you to the residents of Shark Bay – from graceful stingrays and colourful reef fish to alien-looking moray eels, curious octopus, venomous sea snakes and camouflaged stonefish. The guides are passionate and happy to field all sorts of “why?” and “what if?” questions from kids, making it easy for even younger visitors to stay engaged.
The aquarium itself is compact and very manageable with children. Inside, two main rooms house a series of tanks where kids can safely get close to some of the more dangerous creatures they might encounter in local shallows, such as sea snakes and rockfish. Having a guide talk through how to spot them and why they’re important to the ecosystem is reassuring for parents and fascinating for children who might otherwise only hear the “scary” stories about these animals. There are also tanks with the kind of fish families are used to seeing on a plate, like snapper and emperor, which always sparks good conversations about where our seafood comes from and sustainable fishing.
One of the loveliest aspects of a visit here is the focus on conservation and rescue. In the past, Ocean Park began as a snapper rehabilitation centre and has evolved into a broader ecotourism and education hub, welcoming tens of thousands of visitors each year while championing the Shark Bay World Heritage Area. Kids get to hear real stories about injured animals being cared for and released, and about how the team’s research and clean-up efforts support the wider marine environment. It’s a gentle but powerful way to help children understand that sharks and their ocean neighbours aren’t villains, but vital parts of a fragile ecosystem.
The absolute show-stopper for most families is the shark feeding. Every guided tour includes a visit to the outdoor shark lagoon, and every aquarium tour includes shark feeding, so you don’t have to worry about missing it if you arrive at a random time during the day. Standing safely on a bridge above the water, you watch as the sharks circle below and respond to the guide’s feeding. From this vantage point kids can see the sharks’ size, power, and – yes – those famous teeth, without it ever feeling frightening. Instead, the commentary focuses on how these species live, hunt and fit into the bigger picture of Shark Bay’s marine life, and many children walk away with a new sense of respect for animals they might previously have feared.
When your tour is finished, it’s well worth lingering a little longer. Oceans Restaurant, attached to the aquarium, offers indoor and alfresco seating with sweeping views over Shark Bay. Families can relax with a coffee or cold drink while the kids rehash their favourite creatures from the tour, or stay for lunch and enjoy the licensed café-style menu with that unbeatable ocean backdrop. It’s a lovely spot to recharge before heading back to Denham, Monkey Mia or on to your next stop.
Ocean Park is very much a family-friendly attraction: the size of the aquarium makes it easy to manage with younger children, the guided format means you’re not scrambling to “explain” everything yourself, and prams can navigate the main areas with a bit of care. For school-aged kids and teens, the science and conservation focus hits the sweet spot between “cool” and educational. It’s also a fantastic way to get your bearings in Shark Bay early in your trip – the guides are full of local tips on where to spot wildlife and how to stay safe in the water.
If you’re planning a Shark Bay or Monkey Mia holiday, pop Ocean Park Aquarium on your list. Between the knowledgeable marine biologists, the up-close encounters with some truly extraordinary creatures, the thrilling shark feeding and the relaxed restaurant overlooking the bay, it’s a memorable stop that will have the whole family talking long after you’ve left.
Ocean Park Aquarium
Address: 1 Ocean Park Road, Shark Bay WA 6537, Australia
Opening hours: Open 7 days a week, 9am to 5pm. Closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Aquarium tours run 9am to 3:30pm in high season (1 April to 31 October and school holidays) and 9am to 3pm in low season (1 November to 31 March) Aquarium – Ocean Park.
Website: https://oceanpark.com.au/
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After spending 11 years in London working in the television industry for the BBC, Jennie McNichol made the move to Perth in 2010. As the Co-Founder and Editor of Buggybuddys, she has been able to use her experience and passion for helping families to create a trusted online resource for parents across Perth.
Jennie is the proud mother of two daughters, aged 16 & 14 and is a big advocate of the family-friendly lifestyle that Perth has to offer.
